{"id":33770,"date":"2025-09-17T18:49:46","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T11:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/?p=33770"},"modified":"2025-09-17T18:49:46","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T11:49:46","slug":"hkmus-inaugural-world-university-animation-awards-ceremony-gathers-global-animation-elites-and-ignites-creative-possibilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/?p=33770","title":{"rendered":"HKMU&#8217;s Inaugural World University Animation Awards Ceremony gathers global animation elites and ignites creative possibilities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"prntac\">Download high-resolution images and captions: <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/46mdVsx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/bit.ly\/46mdVsx<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"legendSpanClass\"><span class=\"xn-location\">HONG KONG<\/span><\/span>, <span class=\"legendSpanClass\"><span class=\"xn-chron\">Sept. 17, 2025<\/span><\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ &#8212; <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> Metropolitan University (HKMU) is dedicated to advancing creative arts education, providing an international platform for animation talent to connect and exchange ideas, unlocking boundless opportunities in the creative industries, and contributing to <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong&#8217;s<\/span> development as a vibrant East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The inaugural World University Animation Awards (WUAA)\u00a0ceremony was proudly hosted by HKMU on 16 September, at The Box, Freespace, West Kowloon Cultural District. The event celebrated exceptional animated works selected from over a thousand entries across 96 countries and regions. The works demonstrate artistic vision, technical excellence and originality.\u00a0The ceremony brought together elite leaders and industry luminaries to witness the creative brilliance of emerging animation talent.<\/p>\n<div class=\"PRN_ImbeddedAssetReference\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2775345\/Hong_Kong_Metropolitan_University_World_University_Animation_Awards_Group_Photo.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2775345\/Hong_Kong_Metropolitan_University_World_University_Animation_Awards_Group_Photo.jpg?p=medium600\" title=\"Officiating guests at the World University Animation Awards Ceremony\" alt=\"Officiating guests at the World University Animation Awards Ceremony\" \/><\/a><br \/><span>Officiating guests at the World University Animation Awards Ceremony<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The WUAA featured\u00a0six prestigious awards, which were presented in the ceremony to recognise the following animation works:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>the Grand Prize: <i>The Shyness of Trees<\/i> from <span class=\"xn-location\">France<\/span>;<\/li>\n<li>the Best Artistic Award: <i>Urban Duo<\/i> from <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>;<\/li>\n<li>the Best Narrative Award: <i>Tapir Memories<\/i> from <span class=\"xn-location\">Switzerland<\/span>;<\/li>\n<li>the Jury&#8217;s Award: <i>Still Here<\/i> from <span class=\"xn-location\">Ecuador<\/span>;<\/li>\n<li>the Hong Kong Next Generation Award in Animation: <i>Pink Pupil<\/i>; and<\/li>\n<li>the HKMU Special Talent Award: <i><span class=\"xn-person\">My Friend&#8217;s<\/span> Last Wishes<\/i>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Additionally, the Rainbow Horizon Award was presented to honour emerging animators from countries and regions such as <span class=\"xn-location\">Uruguay<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-location\">Sri Lanka<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-location\">Morocco<\/span>, and <span class=\"xn-location\">Moldova<\/span>, whose works were\u00a0not shortlisted\u00a0but\u00a0demonstrated outstanding creative potential. (Please refer to the Appendix for the full list of awardees)<\/p>\n<p><b>Ir <\/b><b>Dr <span class=\"xn-person\">Conrad Wong Tin<\/span>-cheung<\/b>, HKMU Council\u00a0Chairman, said,\u00a0&#8220;HKMU is deeply honoured to host the inaugural World University Animation Awards, which have received an extraordinary response. By bringing together industry elites, we have witnessed the outstanding performance and creativity of emerging stars in animation, as well as\u00a0active support from leading figures across the global industry, fully embodying HKMU&#8217;s mission to foster future talent.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The WUAA is a platform to spark collaboration, fuel innovation and encourage young animators to go beyond limits and reimagine possibilities,&#8221; he added. &#8220;This brings to life HKMU&#8217;s strengths as a university of applied sciences while advancing <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> as an international education hub and strengthening its role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><b>Prof. <span class=\"xn-person\">Paul Lam Kwan<\/span>-sing<\/b>, HKMU\u00a0President, said, &#8220;The WUAA has celebrated not only the art of animation but also the spirit of connection, innovation and boundless imagination. I hope the friendships, collaboration and inspiration fostered here will flourish, leading to even greater achievements in the years ahead. HKMU is committed to strengthening exchanges and partnerships with all participating institutions to further our shared commitment to advancing animation and the other creative arts.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><b>Hon<\/b><b>\u00a0Kenneth Fok <\/b><b>Kai-kong<\/b>, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council\u00a0and Legislative Council Member, commended HKMU&#8217;s efforts in launching the awards. &#8220;Animation, as an art form, is a universal language that transcends barriers, uniting communities and inspiring shared aspirations,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The WUAA not only highlights this dynamic art form but also strengthens <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong&#8217;s<\/span> position as a leader in cultural innovation, using creativity to build meaningful connections worldwide.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In addition to Ir Dr Wong, Prof.\u00a0Lam and Hon\u00a0Kenneth Fok, the officiating guests included <b>Mr Raistlin Lau Chun<\/b>, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; <b>Hon Bernard Charnwut Chan<\/b>, Vice Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon\u00a0Cultural District Authority and Chairman of M+ Board; and <b>Dr <span class=\"xn-person\">Hon Allan Zeman<\/span><\/b>, Member of WestK Enterprise Limited and Chairman of the Lan Kwai Fong Group. <b>Mr <span class=\"xn-person\">Louis Koo Tin<\/span>-lok<\/b>, a special distinguished guest renowned for his contributions to advancing the <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> film and animation industry, was invited to present the Grand Prize together with Prof. Lam.<\/p>\n<p>The panel of adjudicators comprised distinguished figures, including <b>Mr <span class=\"xn-person\">Mark Jones<\/span><\/b>, Dean of the Faculty of Animation, Arts &amp; Design at <span class=\"xn-org\">Sheridan College<\/span> in Canada,\u00a0who served\u00a0as one of the final round adjudicators. He praised the exceptional creative quality of the shortlisted works, stating, &#8220;Every shortlisted work showcases unique originality and exquisite animation techniques, displaying a distinctive style that injects vitality into the global animation industry. The WUAA has not only inspired\u00a0the creative potential of emerging artists but also highlighted\u00a0the boundless possibilities of the creative industries.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The ceremony featured an array of performers from diverse artistic fields, showcasing the vibrant and multifaceted nature of the creative industries. Highlights included an excerpt from the martial arts dance drama &#8220;Storm Clouds&#8221;, presented by the Hong Kong Dance Company; a piano performance of four iconic animation theme songs performed by <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> pianist <b>Ms <span class=\"xn-person\">Joyce Cheung\u00a0Pui-chih<\/span><\/b>; two songs from classic Disney animation films sung by <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> artist and singer <b>Miss Ashley <span class=\"xn-person\">Lin Kae<\/span>-ning<\/b>; and two iconic pieces from popular animations\u00a0performed by internationally acclaimed composer and erhuist <b>Mr <span class=\"xn-person\">Chu Wan<\/span>-pin<\/b> and his ensemble.<\/p>\n<p>The WUAA has ushered in a new era for the animation industry, uniting global emerging talent\u00a0and showcasing the multifaceted and creative potential of animation arts. It also marks a significant milestone in advancing creative arts education at HKMU.<\/p>\n<p><b>Prof. <span class=\"xn-person\">Eva Man Kit<\/span>-wah<\/b>, Chief Organiser of the WUAA and Chair Professor of Humanities in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at HKMU, said, &#8220;The success of the inaugural World University Animation Awards has opened a new direction for HKMU in creative arts education and laid a crucial foundation for promoting local and international animation exchange. The WUAA serves as a platform to showcase animation artistry and\u00a0also further solidifies <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong&#8217;s<\/span> position as a global animation arts and education hub.&#8221; She emphasised that HKMU will continue to create platforms to connect the younger generation with international cultures, fostering creativity and innovation, and solidifying its position as a global hub for creative education.<\/p>\n<p><b>About <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> Metropolitan University:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Established by the Government in 1989, <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> Metropolitan University (HKMU) is the largest self-financed university and the first university of applied sciences in <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> designated by the Hong Kong SAR Government. Today, HKMU is a comprehensive university offering full-time undergraduate, master&#8217;s and doctoral programmes, with a strong commitment to advancing research while continuing its historical mission of providing distance education for aspiring learners.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Through its seven Schools, HKMU offers professional programmes tailored to society&#8217;s needs, including high-demand fields, such as nursing, physiotherapy, medical laboratory science, creative arts, testing and certification, early childhood education, and corporate governance. HKMU&#8217;s dedication and achievements in providing professional education are reflected in its holding the largest share of subsidised places under the Government&#8217;s Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions and Sectors (SSSDP) in <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"PRN_ImbeddedAssetReference\">  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><!-- wp:html --><\/p>\n<p class=\"prntac\">Download high-resolution images and captions: <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/46mdVsx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/bit.ly\/46mdVsx<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"legendSpanClass\"><span class=\"xn-location\">HONG KONG<\/span><\/span>, <span class=\"legendSpanClass\"><span class=\"xn-chron\">Sept. 17, 2025<\/span><\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ &#8212; <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> Metropolitan University (HKMU) is dedicated to advancing creative arts education, providing an international platform for animation talent to connect and exchange ideas, unlocking boundless opportunities in the creative industries, and contributing to <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong&#8217;s<\/span> development as a vibrant East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The inaugural World University Animation Awards (WUAA)\u00a0ceremony was proudly hosted by HKMU on 16 September, at The Box, Freespace, West Kowloon Cultural District. The event celebrated exceptional animated works selected from over a thousand entries across 96 countries and regions. The works demonstrate artistic vision, technical excellence and originality.\u00a0The ceremony brought together elite leaders and industry luminaries to witness the creative brilliance of emerging animation talent.<\/p>\n<div class=\"PRN_ImbeddedAssetReference\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2775345\/Hong_Kong_Metropolitan_University_World_University_Animation_Awards_Group_Photo.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2775345\/Hong_Kong_Metropolitan_University_World_University_Animation_Awards_Group_Photo.jpg?p=medium600\" title=\"Officiating guests at the World University Animation Awards Ceremony\" alt=\"Officiating guests at the World University Animation Awards Ceremony\" \/><\/a><br \/><span>Officiating guests at the World University Animation Awards Ceremony<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The WUAA featured\u00a0six prestigious awards, which were presented in the ceremony to recognise the following animation works:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>the Grand Prize: <i>The Shyness of Trees<\/i> from <span class=\"xn-location\">France<\/span>;<\/li>\n<li>the Best Artistic Award: <i>Urban Duo<\/i> from <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>;<\/li>\n<li>the Best Narrative Award: <i>Tapir Memories<\/i> from <span class=\"xn-location\">Switzerland<\/span>;<\/li>\n<li>the Jury&#8217;s Award: <i>Still Here<\/i> from <span class=\"xn-location\">Ecuador<\/span>;<\/li>\n<li>the Hong Kong Next Generation Award in Animation: <i>Pink Pupil<\/i>; and<\/li>\n<li>the HKMU Special Talent Award: <i><span class=\"xn-person\">My Friend&#8217;s<\/span> Last Wishes<\/i>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Additionally, the Rainbow Horizon Award was presented to honour emerging animators from countries and regions such as <span class=\"xn-location\">Uruguay<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-location\">Sri Lanka<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-location\">Morocco<\/span>, and <span class=\"xn-location\">Moldova<\/span>, whose works were\u00a0not shortlisted\u00a0but\u00a0demonstrated outstanding creative potential. (Please refer to the Appendix for the full list of awardees)<\/p>\n<p><b>Ir <\/b><b>Dr <span class=\"xn-person\">Conrad Wong Tin<\/span>-cheung<\/b>, HKMU Council\u00a0Chairman, said,\u00a0&#8220;HKMU is deeply honoured to host the inaugural World University Animation Awards, which have received an extraordinary response. By bringing together industry elites, we have witnessed the outstanding performance and creativity of emerging stars in animation, as well as\u00a0active support from leading figures across the global industry, fully embodying HKMU&#8217;s mission to foster future talent.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The WUAA is a platform to spark collaboration, fuel innovation and encourage young animators to go beyond limits and reimagine possibilities,&#8221; he added. &#8220;This brings to life HKMU&#8217;s strengths as a university of applied sciences while advancing <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> as an international education hub and strengthening its role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><b>Prof. <span class=\"xn-person\">Paul Lam Kwan<\/span>-sing<\/b>, HKMU\u00a0President, said, &#8220;The WUAA has celebrated not only the art of animation but also the spirit of connection, innovation and boundless imagination. I hope the friendships, collaboration and inspiration fostered here will flourish, leading to even greater achievements in the years ahead. HKMU is committed to strengthening exchanges and partnerships with all participating institutions to further our shared commitment to advancing animation and the other creative arts.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><b>Hon<\/b><b>\u00a0Kenneth Fok <\/b><b>Kai-kong<\/b>, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council\u00a0and Legislative Council Member, commended HKMU&#8217;s efforts in launching the awards. &#8220;Animation, as an art form, is a universal language that transcends barriers, uniting communities and inspiring shared aspirations,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The WUAA not only highlights this dynamic art form but also strengthens <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong&#8217;s<\/span> position as a leader in cultural innovation, using creativity to build meaningful connections worldwide.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In addition to Ir Dr Wong, Prof.\u00a0Lam and Hon\u00a0Kenneth Fok, the officiating guests included <b>Mr Raistlin Lau Chun<\/b>, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; <b>Hon Bernard Charnwut Chan<\/b>, Vice Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon\u00a0Cultural District Authority and Chairman of M+ Board; and <b>Dr <span class=\"xn-person\">Hon Allan Zeman<\/span><\/b>, Member of WestK Enterprise Limited and Chairman of the Lan Kwai Fong Group. <b>Mr <span class=\"xn-person\">Louis Koo Tin<\/span>-lok<\/b>, a special distinguished guest renowned for his contributions to advancing the <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> film and animation industry, was invited to present the Grand Prize together with Prof. Lam.<\/p>\n<p>The panel of adjudicators comprised distinguished figures, including <b>Mr <span class=\"xn-person\">Mark Jones<\/span><\/b>, Dean of the Faculty of Animation, Arts &amp; Design at <span class=\"xn-org\">Sheridan College<\/span> in Canada,\u00a0who served\u00a0as one of the final round adjudicators. He praised the exceptional creative quality of the shortlisted works, stating, &#8220;Every shortlisted work showcases unique originality and exquisite animation techniques, displaying a distinctive style that injects vitality into the global animation industry. The WUAA has not only inspired\u00a0the creative potential of emerging artists but also highlighted\u00a0the boundless possibilities of the creative industries.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The ceremony featured an array of performers from diverse artistic fields, showcasing the vibrant and multifaceted nature of the creative industries. Highlights included an excerpt from the martial arts dance drama &#8220;Storm Clouds&#8221;, presented by the Hong Kong Dance Company; a piano performance of four iconic animation theme songs performed by <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> pianist <b>Ms <span class=\"xn-person\">Joyce Cheung\u00a0Pui-chih<\/span><\/b>; two songs from classic Disney animation films sung by <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> artist and singer <b>Miss Ashley <span class=\"xn-person\">Lin Kae<\/span>-ning<\/b>; and two iconic pieces from popular animations\u00a0performed by internationally acclaimed composer and erhuist <b>Mr <span class=\"xn-person\">Chu Wan<\/span>-pin<\/b> and his ensemble.<\/p>\n<p>The WUAA has ushered in a new era for the animation industry, uniting global emerging talent\u00a0and showcasing the multifaceted and creative potential of animation arts. It also marks a significant milestone in advancing creative arts education at HKMU.<\/p>\n<p><b>Prof. <span class=\"xn-person\">Eva Man Kit<\/span>-wah<\/b>, Chief Organiser of the WUAA and Chair Professor of Humanities in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at HKMU, said, &#8220;The success of the inaugural World University Animation Awards has opened a new direction for HKMU in creative arts education and laid a crucial foundation for promoting local and international animation exchange. The WUAA serves as a platform to showcase animation artistry and\u00a0also further solidifies <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong&#8217;s<\/span> position as a global animation arts and education hub.&#8221; She emphasised that HKMU will continue to create platforms to connect the younger generation with international cultures, fostering creativity and innovation, and solidifying its position as a global hub for creative education.<\/p>\n<p><b>About <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> Metropolitan University:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Established by the Government in 1989, <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> Metropolitan University (HKMU) is the largest self-financed university and the first university of applied sciences in <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span> designated by the Hong Kong SAR Government. Today, HKMU is a comprehensive university offering full-time undergraduate, master&#8217;s and doctoral programmes, with a strong commitment to advancing research while continuing its historical mission of providing distance education for aspiring learners.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Through its seven Schools, HKMU offers professional programmes tailored to society&#8217;s needs, including high-demand fields, such as nursing, physiotherapy, medical laboratory science, creative arts, testing and certification, early childhood education, and corporate governance. HKMU&#8217;s dedication and achievements in providing professional education are reflected in its holding the largest share of subsidised places under the Government&#8217;s Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions and Sectors (SSSDP) in <span class=\"xn-location\">Hong Kong<\/span>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"PRN_ImbeddedAssetReference\">  <\/div>\n<p><!-- \/wp:html --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cision-pr-newswire","category-cision-pr-newswire-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33770"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33770\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=33770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=33770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}